Genetics 15.1, 15.2 defintions Flashcards
nucleotides
repeating unit of nucleic acids; composed of sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous
complementary base pairs
refers to hydrogen-bonded base pairs (A-T, G-C)
genome
the total DNA in an organisms cells
replication
in genetics, the process of copying DNA
replication origin
nucleotide sequence where DNA replication begins
DNA polymerase
enzyme that adds nucleotides to a new strand of DNA being made
elongation
in replication, the process of joining nucleotides to extend a new strand of DNA
leading strand
in replication, the strand made continuosuly
lagging strand
in replication, the strand made in segments
okazaki fragments
short nucleotide fragments of the lagging strand
termination
in DNA replication, the completion of new DNA strands and dismantling of the replication machine
DNA sequencing
process of identifying the nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment
transcription
process of producing RNA from DNA
translation
process of producing a polypeptide based on a mRNA sequence
codon
set of three bases that code for an amino acid
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
RNA that carries the genetic code from DNA to protein synthesis machinery
RNA polymerase
main enzyme involved in formation of RNA from DNA
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
works with mRNA in translation by delivering correct amino acids
genomics
the study of genomes
proteomics
the study of proteins produced from a genome
DNA
thread-like molecule made up of two complementary strands of nucleotides bound together in the shape of a double helix
RNA
a nucleic acid with structural similarities to DNA
semi-conservative replication
when a DNA molecule is copied, each new model contains one parental DNA strand (conserved) and one new DNA strand
replication fork
regions at which the DNA helix is unwound
